Violence Against London Ambulance Staff Soars: New Officers Step In
London’s ambulance crews face a daily battle against violence. New Violence Reduction Officers are teaming up with the Metropolitan Police to protect staff after a shocking spike in assaults. One of the frontline heroes is Louise Murray, an emergency medical technician based at Bromley Ambulance Station.
Staff Attacked Twice Daily, Mental Health at Risk
Louise, who’s been assaulted herself, reveals the brutal toll: “Aggression against our staff can leave them in fear; it can lead to PTSD and mental health problems. I’ve seen the increase in assaults and know the impact it has.”
She added, “We’re passionate about supporting those attacked and gathering evidence to ensure offenders face prosecution. We will do everything to protect our crews.”
Alarming Assault Statistics: Physical, Verbal, and Weapons Attacks
- 59 physical attacks on ambulance crews in August alone
- 260 violent incidents reported since April – averaging two attacks per day as lockdown eased
- Assaults include kicking, punching, head-butting, biting, and nine attacks using weapons
- Last year saw 625 physical attacks and 713 non-physical assaults like threats and verbal abuse
Most attacks come from patients or their relatives – the very people ambulance workers rush in to help.
Chief Executive Condemns Violence: “Not Part of the Job”
Chief Executive Garrett Emmerson spoke out: “Protecting our people while they work is our highest priority. Our crews and call handlers make huge sacrifices with courage and compassion. It’s absolutely disgusting for them to be attacked and should never be seen as part of the job.”
He vowed, “We will push for the prosecution of anyone who attacks our staff.”
Despite campaigns encouraging reporting, bosses fear many attacks still go unreported, leaving the true scale hidden.
